The Hooks manager didn't want his team to have to bat in the bottom
of the ninth inning. After all, that's a perk associated with victory
for the home team.

Clark got his wish - and without any of the ulcer-inducing drama
that seems to permeate Corpus Christi-San Antonio games - as the Hooks
cruised past the Missions 7-3 at Whataburger Field.

The victory was only the fourth for Corpus Christi (16-16 second
half, 43-59 overall) in 17 games against San Antonio and the first in
eight meetings at the Hooks' home field. It ended a two-game losing
streak for the Hooks, who had lost eight of the previous nine
games.

More importantly, the Hooks pulled within three games of co-leaders
Midland and San Antonio in the Texas League's West Division. The
four-game series against the Missions concludes tonight.

"We don't want to get too far (behind)," said Hooks left fielder
Mike Rodriguez, who had a key two-run double during Corpus Christi's
four-run fourth inning. "We didn't want to feed off the negativity of
losing. It's good that we came out and played a good game all the way
around.

"It's positive now, during the game and after the game. We don't
want to get down. We just want to keep going as a team and be positive.
Today was great for that."

The Hooks got key run-scoring hits from Rodriguez, Hector Gimenez
and Mark Saccomanno that had been eluding them all season long against
San Antonio. After going 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position
Monday, the Hooks were 3 for 9 in those situations Tuesday.

"We did a better job and got pitches we could handle," Clark said.
"And that's what you want to do when you've got runners in scoring
position. The pressure is already on the pitcher and as hitters, we get
in trouble by being too anxious instead of getting the pitch to do the
job with. We were able to capitalize on that."

That, combined with a sharp outing from spot starter Peter Bauer,
proved to be more than enough. Bauer allowed only one three hits and an
unearned run in six innings.

He credited the defense behind him - particularly Josh Anderson's
running catch in deep left-center when the lead was only 1-0 in the
fifth - and a strong rapport with catcher Gimenez.

"I think the best thing was Hector and I had a good idea of what we
wanted to do," said Bauer, whose first three Hooks outings had been in
relief. "No matter what it was, whether it was a fastball or a slider,
we were on the same page. That was huge."

A key for Bauer was he retired the leadoff man in five of his six
innings. Failing to do that had been lethal for the Hooks in the first
two games of the series.

"That was big," Clark said. "Especially against (Jaime) Bubela,
because when that guy gets on base, he just causes havoc. Hopefully we
can carry that over to (today). We feel pretty good with (Jason) Hirsh
on the mound."

Hooks third baseman Mark Saccomanno got in on the Hooks' scoring
outburst Tuesday with a rarity for him - a home run at Whataburger
Field.

In 171 home at-bats this year, Saccomanno only has two homers. And
that's at a ballpark where the wind always seems to blow out to the
berm in 325-foot left field. His sixth-inning blast cleared the fence
in left-center near the Hooks' bullpen.

"It's frustrating to know that all you have to do is pop it up to
left field and it's pretty much a home run here," Saccomanno said. "But
you can't think about that. I think that maybe I have thought about
that a little too much.

"I'm tired of saving them. I'm ready to unleash them and hopefully
they'll come in masses like they did the last time I got hot and hit a
bunch on the road."

PEGUERO'S GROWING PAINS

Hooks reliever Jailen Peguero pitched the final three innings for
his 10th save, but he couldn't avoid what have become his usual
struggles against San Antonio.

Peguero got dinged for two runs with two outs in the ninth inning.
Entering the game, he had a 7.50 earned-run average and four blown
saves in five games against the Missions.

Peguero got the final out with two men on, and Hooks manager Dave
Clark had reliever Aaron Williams ready in the bullpen if needed.